"Alone, even doing nothing, you do not waste your time. You do, almost always, in company. No encounter with yourself can be altogether sterile: Something necessarily emerges, even if only the hope of some day meeting yourself again." (E.M. Cioran)

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Quote Of The Day

"[T]his readiness to assume the guilt for the threats to our environment is deceptively reassuring: We like to be guilty since, if we are guilty, it all depends on us. We pull the strings of the catastrophe, so we can also save ourselves simply by changing our lives. What is really hard for us (at least in the West) to accept is that we are reduced to the role of a passive observer who sits and watches what our fate will be. To avoid this impotence, we engage in frantic, obsessive activities. We recycle old paper, we buy organic food, we install long-lasting light bulbs—whatever—just so we can be sure that we are doing something. We make our individual contribution like the soccer fan who supports his team in front of a TV screen at home, shouting and jumping from his seat, in the belief that this will somehow influence the game's outcome."
— Slavoj Žižek -

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Gertie


"I think I could turn and live with animals, they are
so placid and self-contained,
I stand and look at them long and long."
- Walt Whitman -

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge


I continue to hold an enormous respect for the work of Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, who tirelessly persists in pushing at the boundaries of what it is to be human in this world. I particularly respect his ongoing commitment to the cut-up techniques of Brion Gysin and William Burroughs - 'cutting through the association lines of control' - including, more recently, his exploration of the possibilities of evolving beyond the constraints of gender dichotomies.
Anyway, I found the link to this interview with Genesis in Resident Advisor today.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Music, Music...


Yes, I have only just discovered Julianna Barwick. Her basic approach is something I like to do myself - layering vocals by harmonising against the previous one(s) (or over what an instrument track suggests to me) - but Barwick has clearly perfected something here. It's a little Enya-like - to make a very obvious comparison, though without the 'ick' factor. There are only suggestions of words in the cathedral-like spaces she creates with masses of reverb, her angelic voice and perhaps a hint of bass or piano. I'll let this - the title track of her most recent album, 'The Magic Place' - speak for itself. If the embedded version gets removed, I promise I'll put the link in here instead.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

An Oldie But A Goodie

I highly recommend linking to this YouTube video (linking rather than embedding this time, because too many just get removed). From 1978 - the absolutely classic electro of Thomas Leer's 'Private Plane'.

Saturday, July 09, 2011

New Housemate


Where does time go? Now that I've started with a well-worn cliche, I feel I should apologise for the lack of posting lately. Basically, I've been run off my feet - mostly the usual projects and distractions, but the last three weeks by a little new housemate who is proving to be very high maintenance. But then, she is so utterly sweet and gorgeous that I don't really mind at all and we're steadily getting used to each other.
Little Gertie was given to me three weeks ago today, as a birthday gift from friends. OK, so it's inappropriate to give people pets as presents, but somehow I think these friends of mine understood from the start that I wouldn't be able to resist her and it's true. The only rub really is that there have been a few associated expenses - a checkup at the vet, an expensive 'hay bungalow', plus a brand new cage - something sizeable enough for her to be happy in as a solo pig, whilst also fitting in with my apartment lifestyle - ie my living room, so that she can feel a part of things. All completely worth it, I should add.
Apart from spending much of the day holding handfuls of her poo and the constant cleaning up after her generally, she is just so funny - and quite smart. A bonus is definitely the variety of noises she makes - from high-pitched, long squeals, to little purrs and 'tuk tuks' as she forages around in her hay or jumps around excitedly. Still getting used to her twice-a-day cuddle time (thanks for the advice, Julianna!), she prefers to sit across my chest and nuzzles my chin - and even my mouth at times - and nibbles my hand when she wants to be put down again. She eats A LOT. My fridge is like a vegan paradise and she's already getting used to the sound of the supermarket vegetable bags being taken out.
To put it simply: she is utterly delightful.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Music - Tommy Four Seven 'G'


Really enjoying his new album - Primate - right now. I respect the way that he has created this music without using synthesisers or indeed any conventional instruments - instead favouring field recordings and 'found sounds' to create every sound. Does anyone else remember sampling and the effort we used to put into making them?

Friday, March 18, 2011

What To Think, What To Say, What To Do?

A week now after the earthquake struck off the coast of Japan - a week of almost unimaginable devastation and misery for the country. Horrific tsunamis, an escalating nuclear crisis and all I have been able to do is stay tuned to 'the news' here in the hope of hearing some positive turn of events. Feeling so useless, all I can do is hope. All there is is hope.
The Japanese are the most wonderful people I have ever had the fortune to encounter and be amongst. I love the country and a fairly recent visit had me wishing it was possible for me to live there. In the face of this dreadful disaster, there are extraordinary stories circulating that highlight the 'kokoro' (heart and soul) of these considerate people - stories of caring and sharing that put most other Western cultures to shame.
I wait with baited breath and (though I'm not religious) am praying that things will take a turn for the better.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Some BJM Bliss



The Brian Jonestown Massacre
is, without a doubt, my favourite rock'n' roll band in the universe. On first listenings, it may seem as if they are doing a kind of pastiche of early Stones, Byrds, Beatles (with a hint of Spacemen 3) and other psychedelic bands, but they are so much more than this. I really admire the way that they keep it so real, raw and sexy and the fact that they are so generous in making their work available to the public.
I've only just heard this track, which is apparently a 'work in progress', but it's as gorgeous as usual - and the video? Just wonderful.
TBJM always manage to sound fresh and uplifting, even at their grungiest. They appear to really live their music, which often sounds as if it could fall apart at any moment - it's so dangerously chaotic in a way. The playing is so natural, it's as if these guys breathe their music. Lifts my spirits every single time.
Nobody should be without at least one of their records.

Saturday, March 05, 2011

My Love Affair With Japanese Culture Continues







Just love those hairdos and colour combos in the '60s one and the big fluffy animals in the Red Riding Hood one. Also, I can vouch for the fact that the candy is delicious!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

In The Meantime ......



Apologies reader(s), but I'm just flat-out busy right now. Won't be much longer.